Mid to Senior Game Designer (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Mid to Senior Game Designer (Football Manager): Own and design engaging, complex gameplay features and systems from concept to release with an accent on feature goals, player experience, and simulation depth. Focus on collaborating with UI/UX and engineering teams, producing documentation, identifying risks, and mentoring junior designers.

Location: Hybrid (2/3 days per week) at Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E15 2GW, United Kingdom

Company

hirify.global is the studio behind Football Manager, a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe based in East London.

What you will do

• Own and design engaging, complex gameplay features and systems from concept to release.
• Define feature goals, player experience, constraints, and success criteria with design leadership.
• Collaborate with UI/UX and Narrative designers on proposals and definitions.
• Produce documentation and champion features across UI/UX, Engineering, QA, and Communications.
• Identify risks and opportunities, propose solutions, and contribute to the game vision and roadmap.
• Develop design methodologies like test plans, prototyping, user-testing, and analytics.
• Implement content, tune data, and balance systems in Unity; mentor less experienced designers.

Requirements

• Systems-driven game designer with appreciation for complexity, depth, and simulation-heavy topics.
• Autonomous, dynamic driver of gameplay quality in a dispersed team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for collaboration with designers, engineers, artists, and producers.
• Passionate about football and video game development; good knowledge of Football Manager.
• Well versed in Game and UX design best practices for PC; exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience in full development cycle releasing at least one commercial simulation or systems-heavy game.

Nice to have

• Senior role experience including mentorship or people management.
• Experience with Unity or similar modern game engines.
• Expert-level with Excel and data-driven tools; proficient with Miro, PowerPoint, Atlassian suite.
• Computer science, game design, or relevant educational background.

Culture & Benefits

• Private Healthcare and Dental Cover; Contributory Pension (up to 7% employer contribution).
• Discretionary bonus scheme, life assurance, income protection, and travel insurance.
• Mental health support, flexible gym options, on-site physiotherapy and massage.
• Free onsite bar, breakfast bar, access to SEGA games, football club events, clubs and societies.
• Personalised football shirt, service milestones rewards, birthday cupcakes.
• London Living Wage employer; low staff turnover; won 'Best Places to Work' award.